Item 8 - Interview of Leong Ng Sui Kan

98 MB (1 file) : mp3 ; 0 hr., 42 min., 49 sec.

Audio recording of interview with Ng Sui Kan conducted by Vivienne Poy and Paul Chan (interpreter) in Victoria, B.C. Interview mainly in Toisanese (Taishanese/Hoisanese) and Cantonese.

From Transcripts [Extended notes] compiled by Vivienne Poy:

Leong Ng Sui Kan, (Dependent) 1953, interviewed in Victoria.

• born in 1911 in Toisan. Family leased land to farm. Mrs. Leong was used to helping with farm work.
• Had three years of schooling, and got married at the age of 17. Mr. Leong was born in 1909. When he was sent to Canada around the age of 13 or 14 as a student, it was just before the passage of the Exclusion Act, but students were allowed to enter under the age of 14. (Many Chinese boys who entered as students didn’t stay as students very long. It was just a way of fulfilling the immigration requirement.) After he came, 2 more ships brought Chinese to Canada, and then Exclusion came into effect.
• When Mr. Leong was 18, he left Canada to go back to China to get a wife. He stayed 3-4 months, and then returned to Canada. Three years later, he returned, and this time, Mrs. Leong got pregnant with their first son. When the son was almost a year old, he returned to Canada again.
• Staying away for three years at a time was normal because few could afford the trip and to stay away for months at a time in China without working. The only exceptions were those who worked in fish [canneries]. It was seasonal and the pay was quite high. These were known as suicidal jobs because they had to work like machines. Many of them would go back to China every year when the [cannery] was closed (off season) in Canada, and to help with the farm work in the village back home.
• During the 2nd. World War, Mr. Leong was prevented from returning. In the mean time, in order to support herself and her son, Mrs. Leong bought used clothes to sell in war time China. Sometimes she would be gone for days while her son had to look after himself. That happened to a lot of children when poor parents had to work. A group of children will help each other to make meals.
• After the War, around 1948, he went back again, and Mrs. Leong was pregnant with their daughter. After the daughter was born, he returned to Canada again.
• In 1953, Mrs. Leong and their 5 year old daughter came to Canada. In the mean time, Mr. Leong’s uncle had taken their son to Hong Kong for schooling and to work. Mrs. Leong believes that she and her daughter were allowed out of China because they were not land owners and were poor.
• The Leong’s son returned to China to marry his former girls friend, and brought her to Hong Kong. They had 2 children. For a while, the son was not working, and the parents needed to send [money] to support his family. In 1955, they all immigrated to Canada.
• Mrs. Leong worked in everything - green houses, outdoor farming, Maplewood factory where she slaughtered chickens, cleaning streets. She said she did the same kind of work in the village in China anyway, so doing the same in Canada didn’t make any difference. She worked till she received her old age pension.
• Mrs.Leong was happy to be in Canada because she didn’t mind working hard. In China, no matter how hard you work, you still could go hungry, and sometimes, when you want to work, you couldn’t find any.
• Mr.Leong worked as a waiter in Chinatown, and because there were so many mouth to feed, (4 in Hong Kong and 3 in Canada), Mrs. Leong had to work very hard.
• Their son worked for BC Ferry and is now retired, and the daughter is a teacher.